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France achieves statement win over New Zealand in Rugby World Cup opener

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:12:19 GMT

PARIS (AP) — France’s players embarked on a lap of honor at Stade de France after ending New Zealand’s unbeaten run in the Rugby World Cup pool stage by 27-13 on Friday.Following a rousing opening ceremony that showcased French culture, the vaunted French team achieved a statement win against the three-time champion All Blacks. A first World Cup title looked within reach after lighting up its home tournament on a sweltering opening night.“The fact is they had won all of their 31 (previous) pool games,” France coach Fabien Galthié said. “We’ve ticked a box.”France’s second straight victory against New Zealand at Stade de France, two years apart, also inflicted a second straight defeat on the All Blacks in two weeks.“It’s incredible to think that you’ve put nearly 30 points on the All Blacks,” said France captain Antoine Dupont, who had a relatively quiet 50th test. “We have gained a collective confidence.”But France had to overcome conceding tries at the start of ea...

Novak Djokovic hangs up the phone on Ben Shelton to reach his 10th US Open final

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:12:19 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Novak Djokovic limited big-serving Ben Shelton to five aces and broke him five times. He pushed back when the 20-year-old unseeded American produced a late stand that got the home crowd into the match.And after finishing off a 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (4) victory to reach his record-tying 10th U.S. Open final, Djokovic added a touch of insult to injury by mimicking the kid’s “Hang up the phone!” celebration gesture.Djokovic then pointed to his temple and pounded his fist on his chest, before a stone-faced Shelton met him at the net for the most perfunctory of handshakes. A year after Djokovic could not travel to the United States for the Open because he is not vaccinated against COVID-19, the 36-year-old from Serbia is one victory away from a fourth title at Flushing Meadows and 24th Grand Slam championship overall.“These are the kind of matches and occasions that I still thrive on. They still get me going and inspire me to wake up and work hard like the young guys,” said...

United jet engine broke up over Denver after lax inspections: NTSB report

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:12:19 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — An engine on a United Airlines jet broke up over Denver in 2021 because of wear and tear on a fan blade that was not adequately inspected for signs of cracking, federal investigators said Friday.The National Transportation Safety Board said manufacturer Pratt & Whitney did not call for inspections to be done frequently enough, which allowed tiny cracks to grow undetected until the fan blade broke. Trump lawyers move ‘insurrection’ clause lawsuit to federal court The NTSB said the design and testing of the engine inlet contributed to the severity of the situation, and other factors made the engine fire worse than it should have been.The right-side engine of the Boeing 777 broke apart shortly after takeoff from Denver International Airport, raining parts over suburban neighborhoods. The pilots declared an emergency and landed the plane safely 24 minutes after takeoff.Pieces of the engine inlet, fan cowls and thrust reversers broke off and fell on a public park ...

Video shows angry driver throwing coins at woman’s SUV in NW Miami-Dade road rage encounter

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:12:19 GMT

Things took a frightening turn for a woman who said she was trying to avoid a dangerous driver on a Northwest Miami-Dade roadway when he suddenly pulled up alongside her.Cellphone video shows the motorist in question as he threw pennies at Nicole’s Honda SUV, Tuesday afternoon.Speaking with 7News on Friday, Nicole said the irate driver searched his front seat for something to throw, and he kept coming up with fists full of metal.“Every time he kept on going down, I was so worried about what he was going to pull out,” she said. “Honestly, I am just so glad it wasn’t a gun.”Nicole’s SUV has the chips and dents as a reminder of the wild road rage incident.“One, two, three, four,” said Nicole as she counted the dents and dings to her vehicle. “Definitely, this was a classic sign of road rage.”Nicole, 22 said the encounter began as she was leaving her work as a volunteer. She was driving along Northwest 27th Avenue when sh...

Airline passenger complained of camera placed in bathroom, police say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:12:19 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts State Police escorted a flight attendant from an American Airlines passenger jet after a complaint of a camera allegedly placed in a bathroom aboard the aircraft.Passengers aboard American Airlines flight 1441 flying from Charlotte to Boston reported to local media that a woman reported her teenage daughter noticed the camera in the first-class lavatory.Law enforcement officers met the plane at the gate after it landed Sept. 2.Massachusetts State Police initially reported to WSOC-TV in North Carolina that the episode involved a juvenile, a flight attendant and a cell phone. But State Police later deferred to the FBI as the primary investigating agency because the episode happened in the air, where the FBI has jurisdiction. An FBI spokesperson said the agency had no comment on Friday.“We take this matter very seriously and are fully cooperating with law enforcement in their investigation, as safety and security are our highest priorities,” Americ...

Orioles select veteran starter Kyle Gibson as team nominee for Roberto Clemente Award: ‘A really special guy’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:12:19 GMT

The Orioles signed Kyle Gibson to supply a veteran presence to their rotation and clubhouse. But his impact in Baltimore has gone beyond the team.On Friday, the Orioles named Gibson as their nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, an annual honor that recognizes players for their philanthropic efforts. Gibson, a 35-year-old starting pitcher in his first year with Baltimore, has been nominated twice previously, first with the Minnesota Twins in 2019 and last season with the Philadelphia Phillies.Gibson said he and his wife have been philanthropic since they were young, participating in community service events through church and sports growing up.“Elizabeth and I have tried to make a point, each team we’ve been with, get connected with community,” Gibson said. “This is a big community, home for us for six months of the year, and I feel like we’ve been put in a spot to be able to help people, and that’s what we want to do.“Elizabeth and I don&...

Boston power brokers flexing weakened muscles to influence City Council race

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:12:19 GMT

The Boston old boys’ network that used to run the city is trying to flex its withered muscles to tilt the City Council race in what could be a last gasp at power.The group of power brokers is funding a new super PAC that’s running ads supporting a slate of more conservative candidates.But it’s questionable whether the strategy will work.The old Boston — once controlled by politicians like Marty Walsh and Ray Flynn — is gone.It’s been replaced by Michelle Wu’s Boston.The first term mayor put together a coalition of progressives to win the last election and install a number of progressive Democrats like Kendra Lara and Ruthzee Louijeune on the council. They now run the city.Southie’s Ed Flynn is still the council president for a few more months but he lost control of his more liberal colleagues a long time ago.The Wu administration has effectively shut out the once powerful network represented by businessmen like New Balance’s Jim Davis.Davis is now almost entirely funding the super P...

Climate group Extinction Rebellion says Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is wrong for closing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:12:19 GMT

Climate group Extinction Rebellion Boston says the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is wrong for closing its doors due to fears of potential damage that may arise during protests.The museum shuttered its evening hours Thursday because of a protest Extinction Rebellion had planned, which museum director Peggy Fogelman claimed “would put our community and collections at risk.”“The group sought to insert their own artworks into the empty frames in the Dutch Room as one element of their protest,” Fogelman wrote in a letter Thursday. “These frames are not only important and fragile historic objects in their own right, but they memorialize the tragic 1990 theft that deprived our public of the opportunity to enjoy unique masterpieces by Rembrandt, Vermeer and others.”Extinction Rebellion shot back against that belief in a public statement on Friday, saying no member “intended to put art in the empty frames … nor did we ever announce a plan to do so.”The group said it had publicly advertised...

Red Sox notebook: Jarren Duran isn’t satisfied after breakout season

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:12:19 GMT

By all accounts Jarren Duran had a fantastic season. The 27-year-old outfielder broke out as an impact player after two failed big league call-ups and established himself as a key piece of the Red Sox long-term puzzle.Still, seeing it end so abruptly due to injury left a sour taste in Duran’s mouth.“It’s tough but I feel more terrible about myself for getting hurt and not being able to do anything to help the team,” Duran said. “I know nobody is disappointed in me but I’m disappointed in myself for getting hurt.”Duran suffered a season-ending toe injury on Aug. 20 when he scaled the Yankee Stadium wall attempting to make a catch. He underwent surgery on his severely sprained left big toe 10 days later in Charlotte, N.C., and Friday he was back in the Red Sox clubhouse for the first time since the injury.Speaking to reporters, Duran said it’s been difficult dealing with the injury, but despite being stuck on crutches unable to do much, ...

The number of people missing following devastating Maui wildfires has dropped to 66, governor says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:12:19 GMT

HONOLULU (AP) — One month after the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century leveled the historic town of Lahaina, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said Friday that the number of missing has dropped to 66, the confirmed death toll remains at 115 and authorities will soon escort residents on visits to their property.Tens of millions of dollars in aid will make its way to families and businesses as they recover, Green said, and beginning Oct. 8, travel restrictions will end and West Maui will reopen to visitors. “If we support Maui’s economy and keep our people employed, they will heal faster and continue to afford to live on Maui,” Green said.Donations from around the world have poured in to the American Red Cross, the Hawaii Community Foundation, the Maui United Way and other organizations, Green said, and he has authorized $100 million from the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program “to support what others donate, magnifying the power of their generosity.”The governmen...